Ribbon feed devices



9, 1955 H. J. KISTNER 2,714,850

RIBBON FEED DEVICES Filed Dec. 24, 1953 5 SheetsSheet l INVENTOR.

HAROLD J. KISTNER ywm A TTORN EY Aug. 9, 1955 H. J. KISTNER 2,714,850

RIBBON FEED DEVICES Filed D60. 24, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 1.A

INVENTOR.

HAROLD J. KISTNER ATTORNEY Aug. 9, 1955 Filed Dec. 24, 1953 H. J. KISTNER RIBBON FEED DEVICES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

HAROLD J. KISTN ER ATTORNEY Aug. 9, 1955 H. J- KISTNER RIBBON FEED DEVICES Filed Dec. 24, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

HAROLD J. KISTNER ATTORNEY PRINT BANK RELAY FIG.3

4 301 FUSIZOQ United States Patent 2,714,850 RIBBGN FEED DEVICES Harold J. Kistner, Endicott, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 24, 1953, Serial No. 400,321

7 Claims. (Cl. 101-96) This invention relates generally to a ribbon feeding device and more specifically to feeding devices for varying the distance that an inking ribbon is advanced in accordance with the amount or extent of recording done with the ribbon.

An object of the invention is to provide means for varying the speed of advance of an inking ribbon in proportion to the width of the printing line previously recorded therethrough.

Another object of the invention is to provide devices for changing the rate of advance of an inking ribbon in accordance with the number of printing type impressed thereon for recording.

A feature of the invention is the control circuit which includes a number of resistances in series with each other and all in series with a motor for driving the inking ribbon, said resistances being selectively shunted by relay contacts which are in turn controlled in accordance with the number of groups of printing wheels or bars used in a particular printing operation. Therefore, the motor is normally driven at a relatively slow rate with the full armature resistance exercising a retarding effect. Should all groups of printing bars have one or more bars selected for printing, then the relays are all made active to close contacts to shunt out all selective resistance and the motor is fully energized to feed the inking ribbon at its greatest speed. Should only two printer bar groups be selected for printing, then only two relays are actuated to close related contacts and shunt out only one resistance portion as a fraction of the selective resistance with the result that the motor drives somewhat faster to advance the inking A ribbon further than with the printing of only one group.

It is an object of the invention to provide electrical controls for varying the velocity of the ribbon feed in accordance with the number of printer groups used during a printing cycle. A printing group may comprise one or more printing members such as type bars or type wheels. As illustrated, each of six printing groups includes fifteen printing members. The ribbon will be advanced at a certain rate of speed when any one of said groups of members is used for printing; at twice said certain speed when two of the groups are used for printing; etc., so that use of several groups will increase the ribbon feed rate proportionately. By means of these feed controls, an extensive displacement of the ribbon permits usage of the required amount of ink therefrom when a large number of printing groups are operated, and a short displacement of the ribbon avoids the wear and tear of unnecessary movement and limits presentation of ink to the proper amount when a small number of printing groups are operated.

By selecting the proper values of resistances to produce desired graduations of drive motor speed, an optimum condition of ribbon use may be arranged. The feeding rates for each number of printing groups may be made proportional or otherwise and may be preset in accordance with the kind of ribbon material, the nature of the ink, the amount of printing pressure, the area of type face used, etc., so that there are produced the best printing results and the most economical use of the ribbon.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of examples, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the ribbon holding, advancing and reversing mechanism,

Fig. 1A is an elevation view partly in section showing the ribbon holding spools and the clutching mechanism associated therewith,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an alternative form of mechanism involving the use of an endless ribbon,

Figs. 3 and 3A when considered together constitute a wiring diagram of the electrical controls for the ribbon advancing mechanism.

As examples of printing devices with type members under control of electromagnetic selection means, reference may be made to U. S. Patent No. 2,531,885 showing type holding printing bars and U. S. Patent No. 2,569,829 disclosing the use of printer Wheels.

When the invention is applied to the conventional form of inking ribbon involving the use of two ribbon holding spools with the ribbon advanced alternately from one to the other, then the construction may be of the form illus trated in Figs. 1 and 1A. in Fig. 1A it is noted that a base plate 11 supports a pair of vertical studs 12 and 13 upon which is loosely assembled the pair of ribbon holding spools 14 and 15 also illustrated in Fig. 1. When the ribbon R is advancing in the normal direction it is drawn off the spool 15 and describes a substantially circular path before being coiled around spool 14.. Along the path of the ribbon there is presented first a pair of pins 17 between which the ribbon normally passes freely. However, when the ribbon supply on spool 15 is about exhausted, a button 18 on the ribbon comes between the pair of pins 17 and oscillates the lever 19 holding pins 17 and rocks it in a counterclockwise direction to cam over center the extending lever of a snap action single-pole double-throw switch 30 which has a pair of contacts for controlling circuit connections to effect reversal of the drive as noted hereinafter in connection with the wiring diagram. The ribbon reversing levers l9 and 34 have cam shaped ends which alternately operate against opposite sides of the common switch lever extending from switch 35 As a ribbon portion advances further in the counterclockwise circular path it next passes between a guide roller 20 and an inking roller 21, the latter being of an ink absorbing nature and having in cooperation therewith an inking wick 22 extending from a reservoir or capsule 23.

The ribbon next passes between a pair of guide rollers 24 and 25 across the space 10 which spans the print operating area of the recording machine. It is in this space 10 that the platen P and recording material S thereon are presented on one side of the ribbon R while on the other side 'are the series of groups of printing type members T in holders such as bars or wheels arranged in a single line with a plurality of them adapted to be impressed against the ribbon and the recording material behind it.

As the ribbon progresses further it is guided by another roller 26 alongside another inking roller 27 having cooperating therewith another ink capsule 2%.

Before reaching the spool 14 the ribbon passes between another pair of pins 29 similar to the pins 17 and extending from a rockable lever 34 which has an arm cooperating with the snap switch lever which forms part of the switch that is provided to effect reversal of interior contacts whenever a button such as button 18 on the ribbon R is encountered between pins 29 and coming off the spool 14 when a ribbon reversal movement is in progress and the ribbon supply is about to be exhausted.

The ribbon operating mechanism includes a motor M (Fig. 1) the shaft of which carries a pinion cooperating with a gear 36 loosely pivoted onthe stud 12. Meshing with. gear 36 is a similar sized gear 37 loosely pivoted on stud 13. The gearing is in constant operation, and motion therefrom is imparted to either of the ribbon reeling spools by means of clutch mechanisms involving clutch disks 38 and 39 assembled fast to the underside of gears 36 and 37' respectively (Fig. 1A). Underneath the clutch disk 38 is a similar disk 40 which is keyed to the cylindrical formation 41 integral with the spool 14 and extending downward through the opening in gear 36. Cupshaped spring 42 is also assembled on the cylinder extending below spool 14 and it exerts a nominal amount of pressure tending to join the clutch plates but not enough to effect a driving condition. in order for the spool 14 to be connected to the gear 36 through the clutch disks 38 and 40 it is necessary for pressure to be exerted along the rim of disk 40 by a conical extension 43- on a rocking frame 44 joined to and pivoted on rod 45 and having a similar conical extension 46 cooperating with another clutch disk 47 assembled closely with the other clutch disk 39 on the reversing spool 15. The rod 45 for supporting the clutch operating frame 4-4 is pivoted loosely in a pair of brackets 48 extending upwardly from the mechanism base 11.

Referring to Fig. 1 it is noted that rod 45 not only carries the clutch operating cones 43 and 46 but it also has affixed thereto a block 49 carrying a common armature plate 50 adapted to be rocked alternately by the magnets NM and RM suspended. above the plate 50 on opposite sides of. the pivot constituted by rod 45. Under normal conditions the normally operated magnet NM has been energized and then the plate 50 is rocked upwardly on the right hand side with the result that the rod 45 and connected clutch operating cones are also rocked counterclockwise. A coiled tension spring 51 is connected centrally to an extension 52 formed on the underside of block 49 and tends to restore the rod 45 and parts-thereon to the normal centralized ineffective position when a magnet NM or RM. is deenergized.

Referring back to Fig. 1A it is seen that the effect of the energization of magnet NM and counterclockwise rocking of rod 45 causes pressure upward by the conical end 43 up against the lower clutch disk 40 tending to engage it with the constantly rotating disk 38 on lower side of drive gear 36 with the result that the spool 14 connected to disk 40 will be connected to the driving gear 36 and be driven to wind the ribbon R on the spool 14.

It is noted hereinbefore that the other ribbon spool 15 has a similar set of clutch operating connections involving the clutch disk 47 which is keyed to the bottom of the cylindrical formation 54 on the spool 15. When a reversal of the drive of the ribbon is called for by the operation of switch 30 (Fig. 1) then the reversing magnet RM is energized and the armature plate 50 is swung upward at the left to reverse the action of the frame 44 clockwise against the center spring 51 and the connected clutch operating parts are also reversed in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1A) so that the conical end 46 is forced upward againstclutch-disk 47 to result in a connection for driving the reversing spool 15.

As an alternative form of control, the driving connections to an endless form of ribbon ER is shown in Fig. 2. There the ribbon is seen to be guided along a closed path and confined by a series of six guide rollers55. Extending upwardly from the base plate 11 and pivotally mounted at 56 on plate 11v is a frame 57 carrying all the parts-for inking and driving the ribbon ER. The frame 57 carries an inking roller 58 and a capsule 59 having a wick cooperating therewith. The inking ribbon roller 58 has a gear 61 operating as an intermediary between a drive pinion 62 on the clutch shaft 63 which is in alignment with the shaft of a motor M fastened to the frame 57. Another gear 64 is on one of the guide rollers 55 to effect an operating motion as imparted through pinion 62 and gear 61. Between motor M and gear 62 are a pair of clutch disks 66 and 67' for selectively causing motion of the motor to be imparted to the ribbon drive under control of a magnet NM2 fastened to frame 57. Between the magnet and clutch. disks 66 and 67 is an armature frame 68 pivotally mounted on the underside of the top plate of frame 57 and provided with a conical end similar to those ends 43 and 46 shown in Fig. 1A. At the proper time in a printing cycle, usually directly after printing, the magnet NM2 is energized long enough to hold the armature frame 68 rocked in a counterclockwise direction to press downward on the clutch disks and to connect: the normally idle clutch disk 66 with the constantly operating disk 67 to connect the ribbon. to be driven by'tlre' motor M. Frame 57 may be rocked counterclockwise by operation of handle 71 to disconnect the driving: and inking mechanism Whenever it is desired to change the ribbon.

It will be noted that in both instances involving the advance of the ribbon shown in Fig. l and that in Fig. 2 there" is dependence for the extended movement of the ribbon upon the speed of the motor M. It is one of the features of the present invention that the speed of the motor M is varied in accordance with the extent of printing; i. e., the Width of the ribbon which is used for impressions on any one printing operation. Therefore, by varying the speed of the motor and the extent of the drive imparted to the ribbon after each printingoperation, it is possible to conserve the ink thereon and apportion it according to the demands made by printing. It is also possible by so varying the ribbondriving speed to limit the speed to the exact demands and avoidunnecessary speed of operation.

The circuit shown in Figs. 3 and 3A disclose how the selection of printing over a narrow section of the printing line, or a relatively wide section of the printing line, affects the speed of the ribbon feed drive motor to withdraw longer stretches of the inking ribbon when longer stretches are impressed for recording. It isnot so much a matter of'how many type are impressed as it is amatter of how widely they are spread. If say six types are impressed side by side, that does not require much of the length of the ribbon and a slow feed is sufficient to yield a fresh expanse of ribbon. However, if such six types are related to different sets of figures and occur singly and spread out across the entire printer width of almost a foot, then a fast feed isneeded'to-reel away quite a length of ribbon to present a long: unusedlength before the next printer impression. Of course, generally the recorded impressions are rather close together across the printed line and not at random.

The circuit is illustrated, Fig. 3, in connection with a printer. having printer control magnets PM each pluggable to a card sensing brush' B1B90 cooperating with the common contact roll 75. The printer magnets PMv are divided into six groups with fifteen magnets in. each group. Magnets PM1-15 are connected in parallel and then all in series with a feed control rela} R1, magnets PM16-30 are connected jointly in series with a second feed control relay'R2, etc. The six feed control relays R1-R6 have holding coils and contacts for selectively shunting portions of a resistor 76 which is in series with the armature of motor M. The minimum motor speed used is that predetermined speed resulting from the inclusion of all of resistor 76 in the armature circuit. Such slow speed is used when the printer control or controls of only one group is used and the consequent energization of only one relay R1-R6 causes no shunting and no change in resistance and hence no change of the slowest speed. When two or more groups of printer controls are used, then one or more of the tapped sections of the resistor 76 are shunted and the motor speed is increased accordingly.

A sample circuit may be traced for the card control of printing. When a punched card is fed between the common contact roll 75, Fig. 3, and the sensing brushes B1B90, a card lever contact 78 is closed in order to complete a circuit through wire 79 on the plus side of the line, and then through card lever contacts 78, cam contact C1, common brush BC contact roll 75 brushes Bl-B90 which read holes punched in the card at the usual differential spacings and representative of data control panel sockets and plug wires 81 print control magnets PM, one or more of the feed control print bank relays R1-R6 and wire 80 to the minus side of the line. If any one or more of the first fifteen print magnets PM are energized then the connected relay R1 is also energized and the same is true of printer control from magnets PM16 to PM30 being accompanied by activation of relay R2. The other four relays are energized selectively in the same way to denote the extent or width of selected print control. Each of said print bank relay coils Rl-R6 is of relatively low resistance so that it can be energized by the current flow through one to fifteen of the print magnets PM in parallel. Each of the print magnets PM operates on such a voltage that it is not affected by the voltage drop across the feed control relays R1-R6 whether one or all fifteen magnets PM are pulsed on the same operation.

Relays Rl-R6 have holding coils shown in Fig. 3A and which are provided to sustain the control over contacts operated by the relays during a printing cycle. A typical holding circuit includes line 79, cam contacts C2, wire 83, contacts R3-5, holding coil R3 and wire 80 to the power source.

The direction in which the inking ribbon R moves is governed by which of the clutch control magnets NM or RM, Fig. 1, is made effective on a certain cycle and that in turn is determined by the action of the reversing buttons 18 on the switch 30 as already explained. The way the contacts 32 and 32a of the switch are Wired in the circuit is shown at the top of Fig. 3. After printing has been effected a cam contact C3 is closed and then either magnet NM or RM is made effective to operate one of the clutches and drive the ribbon forward at the selected rate. The clutch control circuit is completed from the plus side of the line and through Wire 79, card lever contacts 78, cam contacts C3, ribbon reverse contacts 32, magnet NM and wire 80 to the minus side. Upon ribbon reversal, the other contacts 32a close and then magnet RM is effective over the same circuit.

Although the rate of speed of motor M is selected as soon as print selection is made and relays R1R6 selectively operate the contacts along the right sides of Figs. 3 and 3A, it is only after printing is elfected that the drive of the motor M at the selected speed is imparted to the ribbon through one or the other of the clutches.

Certain portions or all of the resistance 76 may be shunted by selective closure of contacts in the labyrinth of printer bank relay contacts of relays Rl-R6 along the right side of the wiring diagram. At slow speed with all the resistance in the circuit, no change in the circuit is effected by the use of only one group of printer magnets and operation of one relay R1-R6 alone. For example, energization of relay R1 alone fails to shunt any part of resistor 76, i. e., a circuit is not completed from armature resistor terminal #1, wires 87 and 88, the normally open side of contacts R1-1, wire 89, Fig. 3A, and the normally closed contacts R2--2, R3-3, R45, R5--9 and R6-17, the latterbeing without further connection and intentionally impotent. The same open shunt circuit conditions exist when only one of the other five ribbon feed control print bank relays R2R6 is energized as a result of short line printing. Thus the slow speed of motor M due to the full resistance 76 is maintained for the minimum extent of printing by any one section or bank of the printer.

There is a proportional increase in speed when the adjacent pair of the control relays R1 and R2 are energized together, for then they complete a shunt circuit from armature resistor terminal 1 and through wires 87 and 88, lower contacts R1-1 now closed, wire 89, lower contacts R22 now closed, the normally closed contacts R3 4, R47, R5-13 and R6-25, wire 91, terminal 2 and through the remainder of the resistor 76 from terminals 2 to 6 and then to motor M. Thus the speed of motor M is increased by the shunting of the portion of resistance between terminals 1 and 2. A circuit similar to the one just traced to the terminal 2 is completed when any two print bank relays of R1-R6 are energized during a print cycle.

The resistance values of the portions of resistor 76 between terminals 1-6 may be calculated and graduated to yield desired effects such as a speed ratio proportional to numbers of printer groups used, or differing ratios of ribbon advance for the use of different numbers of printer groups.

Other circuits may be traced from terminal 1 to shunt out parts of the resistor 76 to terminal 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, depending upon whether any 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 print bank relays are energized. Taking an example of three relays, say R1, R3 and R6, then the circuit to terminal 3 is from terminal 1 through wires 87 and 88, lower contacts R1--1, wire 89, normally closed contacts R2-2, lower contacts R3--3, normally closed R46 and R511, lower contacts R6-21 and wire 92. Taking another example of five relays including R2-R6, then the circuit to terminal 5 is from terminal 1 through wires 87 and 88, normally closed contacts R1-1, normally open contacts R2--1, R3-2, R4-4, R5-8 and R6-16, and wire 94.

Regarding the unidirectional and endless ribbon ER, Fig. 2, this modified form of inking ribbon is driven in the same fashion by motor M to have a speed of advance in proportion to number of printing groups used. The wiring controls of Figs. 3 and 3A may be applied to the motor of Fig. 2 just as to the motor of Fig. 1. Since there is no need of reversal of feed with the endless ribbon of Fig. 2, only one clutch control magnet NM2 is needed and that is energized invariably with a printing operation by closure of cam contacts such as contacts C3 of Fig. 3.

While there have shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will. be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a printing machine controlled by records having print selection indicia in a plurality of columns, an inking ribbon, a feeding means therefor, a plurality of means for sensing said indicia, print selection control devices under control of said sensing means, said devices and sensing means being divided into groups, a series of ribbon feed control relays, one of said relays for each of said groups, circuit means connecting each of said groups and a related relay so that it is activated by the selection of any one or more of said devices of a group, sets of shunting contacts, one set for each relay, an electric motor for said ribbon feeding means, an armature resistor for said motor, said resistor being sectionally tapped in several sections, one less section than the number of relay groups, to be shunted by said relay contacts over one section for each group of print selection devices used in excess of unity, said contacts being arranged in a labyrinthformation between the tapped sections of said resistor to shunt out more resistor sections for greater numbers of selected printer groups, whereby the motor operates faster to feed more ribbon when a long stretch of it has been selected for a printing impression involving greater numbers of printer groups.

2. In a. machine for printing in one or more groups of columns on a record sheet, means for detecting the number of groups of columns in which printing takes place, an endless inking ribbon, means for supporting said ribbon in a closed path, means. for feeding said ribbon, a drive motor for said feeding means, a variable armature resistor for said motor, and means under control of said detecting means for changing the resistance of said resistor and feeding said ribbon according to the number of groups of columns printed on said sheet.

3. The machine set forth in claim 2 wherein said feeding means includes a separable drive frame supporting said drive motor, a clutch and intermediate drive gear and inking roller, means for operating said frame to drive and ink the ribbon, means for operating said clutch intimed relation with printing, and means for applying ink continuously to said inking roller.

4. In a machine for printing in one or more groups of columns on a record sheet, means for detecting the number of groups of columns in which printing, takes place, a printer, an inking ribbon for the printer, means for feeding the ribbon, a motor for driving said feeding means, a sectionalized armature resistor for said motor, and means under control of said detecting means for shunting a proportionate number of sections of said resistor and operating the motor at a speed proportional to the number of groups of columns printed on said sheet.

5. In a printing machine controlled by records having print control indicia in one or more record areas, means for sensing said indicia in a plurality of areas, a printer, an inking ribbon for the printer, feeding means for the ribbon, a motor for operating said ribbon feeding means, a. speed control means for said motor, and means under control of said sensing means for varying the speed of said speed control means to go faster when more record bearing areas are sensed.

6. In a printing machine controlled by cards having print control indicia in. one or more groups of columns, means for sensing said indicia in said groups of columns, a printer, an inking ribbon for the printer, feeding devices for the ribbon, an operating means for said feeding devices, a variable speed driving controlmeans for said operating means, and means under control of said sensing means for controlling said speed control means to go faster when more than the minimum number of groups of columns are sensed.

7. In a printing device, type members in groups, means for selecting type members of one or several groups, means for printing from the selected members a multiple character print on a record sheet, an inking ribbon for said printing means, means for feeding said ribbon, an operator for said ribbon feeding means, a variable speed control means for said operator, means for detecting the number of groups of type members selected for effecting print recorded on the sheet, and. means under control of said detecting means for controlling said speed control means to advance the ribbon according to the number of groups of type members involved in the print recorded.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,954,834 Smith Apr. 17, 1934 2,297,961 Hughes Oct, 6, 1942 2,411,723 Hausman Nov. 26, 1946 2,475,336 Petz July 5, 1949 2,485,254 Brewster Oct. 18, 1949 2,592,706 Julius Apr. 15, 1952 2,665,079 Lippert Jan. 5, 1954 2,672,092 Beattie Mar. 16, 1954 

